Ahead of election, Garms talks voting, safety measures
By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register
With the Nov. 3 general election less than a week away, the Times-Register interviewed Clayton County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections Jennifer Garms about voting, ballots and election integrity.
Q: What methods of voting are available in Clayton County other than in-person? (Due to the timing of the article, Garms) did not speak to absentee by mail.
A: Voters may cast an absentee ballot at the courthouse in Elkader through Nov. 2. Regular weekday office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Additional hours are Saturday, Oct. 31, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Fridays until 5 p.m. Voters must show a voter ID and complete an absentee ballot request form. They will then be issued a ballot. The ballot will be put in a secrecy sleeve and then an affidavit envelope, which must be signed and sealed. Failure to do so will cause rejection of the ballot.
Q: What should people bring with them to vote on election day?
A: If a voter is already registered in Clayton County, they only need to bring a voter ID. The voter pre-registration deadline was Oct. 24, so any voter not registered by this date can go through election day registration at the polls. They will need to provide proof of identity and residence or have a person living in the same precinct attest for them. Having a driver’s license with your current address is a way to accomplish this, but other items are acceptable (i.e. passport, utility bill).
Q: What makes this year different than previous elections? Has COVID-19 made it more difficult?
A: The assignment of poll workers has been extremely difficult this year. Many have decided to not work this election due to COVID-19. We consolidated polling places down as far as the legislature will allow and still struggle to find poll workers. Most counties, like Clayton, are seeing that 50 to 75 percent of poll workers are new. This year, we include in our poll worker training how to help all through the process regarding use of PPE and sanitization of the polling place before, during and after the election.
Social distancing is also an issue and may cause some lines to form on election day as booths need to be spaced out and sanitized. The number of available booths will be less than previous years because of this.
Q: What are the trends with regard to voter registration?
A: The voter registration in Clayton County is very fluid. There are voters that may change their party to participate in a caucus or primary election and stay with that party until the next instance. As it stands, the current makeup of active voters in Clayton County is 29 percent Democrat, 35 percent Republican, 35 percent no party and less than 1 percent other.
Q: What is the expected turnout and has there been an increase in alternative methods of voting?
A: Turnout for presidential elections in Clayton County is usually over 70 percent, with the last two being around 80 percent. Absentee voting usually makes up 35 percent of this total. This year, we thought we would see more of an uptick in absentee voting but are currently approaching 40 percent.
Q: Is there any reason someone might not be allowed to vote when they show up?
A: Iowa has provisional balloting. A person will always be allowed to vote and whether that vote will count is up to the absentee special precinct board. A person may appear at the wrong polling place and be directed to their correct polling place.
Q: What safety measures are being put in place, not just with COVID-19, but to ensure the integrity of the voting process?
A: We provide training to all our poll workers to ensure the safety and integrity of a person’s right to vote. We also have the sheriff’s office available throughout the day if a situation arises.
Q: Who counts and certifies the votes/results? How can the public be sure it will be done correctly and honestly?
A: The poll workers are selected to maintain party balance. They will print and sign the results tape from the machines that were previously tested. The same goes for the absentee special precinct board who tabulate all absentees received on or before election day. All poll workers are required to take an oath prior to working. Additionally, a post-election audit is required for each election. The final results are canvassed by the board of supervisors on Nov. 10.
Q: What would cause a ballot to be rejected?
A: An absentee ballot may be rejected if it is lacking a signature or if the envelope is not sealed. A voter may also be challenged, which could result in rejection of their ballot. Challenges are rare but could include reasons of not living in the precinct where they are voting, not being 18 years of age or another reason.
Q: Have you encountered any issues with ballots by mail? What is the deadline for mail-in ballots?
A: The deadline to request a mail-in ballot was Oct. 24. The last day to postmark a ballot is Nov. 2. We do encounter issues with ballots at times and reach out to the voter to cure the deficiencies. There may be at any time a handful of ballots that are found lacking a signature or appear to not be sealed. Ballots will not be “rejected” until they are presented to the absentee special precinct board.
Q: Any final comments on the issue or election day?
A: Please consider absentee voting as an option for this election, as a voter’s schedule on election day may be uncertain. This may help alleviate lines at the polling places. No matter what your voting plan is, our goal is to assist you and make sure your vote is counted.
